It wasn't her wings or teeth that gave it away. But the reflection she did not have.

When I started this piece I was planning to paint a reflection. Silly me. Looks unsettling without it which I think fits the scene.

Timelapse: https://bsky.app/profile/ballshapedman.bsky.social/post/3mrvsdiaylk2w

I'm trying for a modern Gothic look. When I look for vampire reference material the outfits are almost all from the Victorian era. This is my attempt to modernize the style a bit. What do you think? What would a modern vampire wear?

Timelapse: https://bsky.app/profile/ballshapedman.bsky.social/post/3mrvb5lxbe22e

If you're thinking it's only July you'd be wrong. How do I know? My wife at I went shopping this weekend and 3 of the 4 stores were Halloween decked out. Clearly that means it's October...

And I wanted you try to paint a vampire.

Timelapse: https://bsky.app/profile/ballshapedman.bsky.social/post/3mrnp2pavwc2w

I pulled a black and white photo of this young man and had to paint his hair. But I felt like it needed out of this world colors. What do you think?

And as a bald man who once had hair that was always complimented by the barber, maybe I'm a little envious.

Timelapse: https://bsky.app/profile/ballshapedman.bsky.social/post/3mrdg2w5vck2f

Hosted by https://bsky.app/profile/artsallianceofstfd.bsky.social, our model, https://bsky.app/profile/ludmedinaartola.bsky.social was great.

This one is my favorite by far is the black and white of Ludmila's face is by far my favorite. I feel like I really captured her spirit here.

Second pose from Dilnoza Abdusalimova. I tried to convey the energy I feel watching the video and hearing the music but in a still image.

Timelapse: https://bsky.app/profile/ballshapedman.bsky.social/post/3mr66i63lc22j

Modern witches would never use a broom as transport when there is perfectly comfortably furniture! Fly in comfort ladies!

And the robe, IT HAS POCKETS!!

Timelapse: https://bsky.app/profile/ballshapedman.bsky.social/post/3mqzyyhvqjc2d

Found shorts of her on the internet where she does JoJo poses and they're FANTASTIC! I immediately needed to paint them. The first pose is very much her, we'll see what I do with the dozen or more other poses I saved.

Timelapse: https://bsky.app/profile/ballshapedman.bsky.social/post/3mquei2huv22k

I received a record amount of feedback on my last attempt to paint water on skin. Thank you all! The biggest mistake I made was I was trying to paint water on a waxed surface like a car on skin.

I learned a long time ago light reacts with skin very different than hard surfaces. Only makes sense water would do the same. And several of you pointed that out. It also explains why I couldn't find any famous artists who painted what I was looking for. Because skin isn't car!

Oops.

How did I do this time?

Timelapse: https://bsky.app/profile/ballshapedman.bsky.social/post/3mqpccs4yis2q

Edit: There is supposed to be a small waterfall off screen to her left. The actual model was in the shower as a wet skin reference. I didn't want to paint someone in the shower. And people in waterfall scenes mostly focus on the waterfall! So I adapted this one.

Trying a more detailed view of water droplets. How did I do?

Timelapse: https://bsky.app/profile/ballshapedman.bsky.social/post/3mqkvliarnk2d